The statistics tell the story:

 

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, over 190 people from 28 states have been exonerated and freed from death row.

 

On average, an exonerated death row survivor spends 11.5 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit.

 

For every eight prisoners executed, one innocent person was condemned to die and later exonerated.

 

At least 4.1 percent of defendants sentenced to death in the United States are innocent.